This is our second training. The first was with a different company and the experience was awful. This time? The trainers were so knowledgeable, patient and kind. We had our three dogs train today. One of our dogs is a real challenge at times and he was again today. The calm demeanor and experience with the two trainers was so helpful! We are so happy with this overall experience. I highly recommend Pawsitive Principles for your snake aversion training. We will be back in a year for reinforcement. read more

I was going to write an awesome review. However MilissaK wrote one of the best reviews I've ever read. I agree with everything she said. one thing I really noticed was how calm the trainers were. My dog Bodhi is a bit dog aggressive. Eric started handling Bodhi & he was just a calm as could be. I really appreciate that. The rattle snake avoidance class was not very long but definitely got the point across. Bodhi was moving away from them as fast as he could. I'm very happy with the training. read more

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This was my first time attending any of the Ramona-based rattlesnake training courses that I see offered from time to time here. The training company sent me an email containing all my registration confirmation, as well as directions to the facility, where to park how to check in etc. Upon arrival there was plenty of room to take the dogs for a brisk walk so we could get some of the Yaya's out from the car ride. One of the things I liked right away about the training was that Pawsitive Principles Training had multiple trainers available at the same time. A single trainer would take the dogs, along with their owners, through the course and each dog/owner duo was assigned to a single responsible trainer for the duration. A separate trainer was designated to handle the rattlesnakes exclusively bringing them in and out of each test. The trainers were composed, calm and soft-spoken when approaching each owner and their dog to have a chat about what to expect, and how the training would work. They took a moment to greet each dog and get a feel for their personality and temperament. While some canine trainers can be high strung, authoritative and almost militant, these folks were the opposite; professional yet collaborative, grounded and guiding without being dominating. A great combination. Our trainers took us through each course separately with one handler or owner paired with each dog. They explained the dog would would be fitted with an e-collar, show the color to each dog owner and explained carefully how it worked - so the owners felt informed and in charge of their pets care. Yes, an e-collar. More on that later... Here in this setting, our trainer both demonstrated and explained how each dog would be introduced to a "pre-planted" and muzzled rattlesnake in the meadow. Once the dog spotted the rattlesnake, demonstrated interest and moved toward it, the dog then received an electric stimulus...from the lowest, barely-perceptible setting first...and the trainer would only increase the setting if need be, and only up to the level at which they could perceive a backing off response of any kind from the dog. In both true Pavlovian and Negative Reinforcement pairing, as soon as the stimulus was recognized by the canine it was stopped. This ensures the dog associates the stimulus directly with the rattlesnake in the absolute moment the interaction occurs. And also the trainer explained to us exactly how this is what makes the dog think he is receiving the negative stimulus directly from the rattlesnake encounter. This is the training that lies at the heart of all rattlesnake aversion training courses across the country. When I found really interesting about the rattlesnake itself was that they had the snake muzzled, but the snakes forked tongue could still come out in that signature hiss. I could not see a muzzle on the snake from a foot away, and I doubt a dog could either. So this immediate and short stimulus the dog receives at the exact moment the rattlesnake is recognized by the canine is paramount for classic behavioral training - for to prolong the stimulus much past that moment could confuse the dog about where the "electric bite" was coming from or what was causing it, rendering the training too broad and ultimately unsuccessful. Dogs really live in the moment, literally in this case. Because these trainers were so dialed-in to the specific window and pairing of the training response, they excelled at achieving their goal very quickly, and it only took about 10-15 minutes to train each dog, including both site and smell aversion training. The trainers used different size rattlesnakes throughout the training but most of them were smaller than I expected. You know when I think of a rattlesnake I always think of them being BIG. But they aren't always, and the experts say the smaller, younger ones haven't learned to control their venom release yet - so they are the most dangerous. It was a good exercise. The 90lb dog I was handling for my client (sweet Charlie the Golden Retriever) went from being completely oblivious to the rattlesnake and practically stepping on it several times before even noticing it, to immediately identifying it from 20 paces and giving a wide berth to the snake (carefully crossing both the initial area and other areas the snake was moved to) by least 25 feet away. It's important to move the rattlesnake during the training so that you can make sure the dog is not pairing the stimulus to an avoidance of that particular area or part of the yard, but is actually pairing the avoidance with the rattlesnake itself. Because as we all know, snakes move! Hope some of you who have been curious about (or even intimidated by) rattlesnake training find this review helpful. read more

Pawsitive Principles Training & Wellness - Pet Training Near Me

My skeptical Schnauzer has been doing agility lessons with Bree for about 8 years. He's 12 now and she took him from a youngster who couldn't work off-leash to a happy, fast agility dog who can finish the course with or without me:-) She is patient, kind when I forget the course, and a truly skilled trainer who can backchain the course to make sure you and your dog are successful. With her background in equestrian work, raising and training show and agility performers, she's the real deal. read more

We left our special needs dog with Bree. She needed special feeding and some training in being more accepting of other dogs. She was there 15 days while we were out of state and was made one of the family and came home happy, confident and well on her way to being more social. I would trust Bree with her any time...it was a very positive experience. Widget was 4 1/2 and hadn't been boarded before...it was scary for us, but we had a happy smiling picture of her only hours after leaving her there. read more

Bree is the most knowledgable and effective trainer I have ever met in the techniques of positive reinforcement. Her depth of expertise amazes me. She knows agility, rally, obedience and many other sports. She tailors your lessons to the goals you have for your dog. Her methods are state of the art. She knows how to problem solve unwanted behaviors. I have taken two dogs through her classes, my present is a 5 month old puppy. My puppy is getting an amazing start in life and I feel very lucky to have Bree as a resource for any issues that crop up. read more

Bree is hands down the best trainer I have ever met. She is extremely knowledgeable and her positive methods get results. I've been seeing Bree with my dogs for seven years, since they were puppies. They are always so excited to see and work with her. She has trained them in agility, rally, obedience, and anything else that has come up, like the time we had to change gears and teach Bailey to use a hitch mounted step to get into my SUV. Bree exudes a positive energy that dogs just naturally respond to. It's fun to watch her spend five or ten minutes with a dog, and the dog comes away having learned something new! Bree is also an extremely caring individual. I've seen many of the dogs that have stay and trained with her and they have all been very well cared for. There is no way she would "starve" a dog and her place is very clean. I wouldn't hesitate to leave my collies (AKC show quality collies!) with her and I'm very picky about leaving my dogs with anyone. If you are truly interested in training your dog, I highly recommend Bree. read more

Bree might be knowledgeable about dogs but that doesn't mean she takes good care of them. To make a long story short. We were assured our baby Fiona would be a part of the family, treated with love and cared for while at Bree's home for 21 days for training. Before dropping our baby off to Bree we made sure Fi had her 3 set of shots and had no parasites. Our baby was a happy, very healthy, loving dog. When we got her back she was 10 pounds under weight, had liquid diarrhea, timid, afraid. I took her to the Vet the next morning. The vet witnessed how she was acting and saw how under weight she was, We also learned Fi got parasites while there. All the ladies who knew Fi before she went to Bree also noticed a big change in Fi's behavior and how skinny she was and could clearly see Fi was not cared for. They all apologized and was very concerned. When I addressed my concerns to Bree. All I got was, I should have gone to her not the Vet, now the vet has her on antibiotics and that's not good for her. The liquid diarrhea was because she was under stress because we took her home and now she is in a different world and stressed out. One excuse after another. Not one concern about our baby. So I paid Bree $1,500.00 and supplied the food for our baby. She was to be trained a little more then what we were already doing with her at home. So she would continue on sit, stay, down, leave it, being kennel trained and add on leash walking, getting her social with other dogs and traveling. But what we got was our baby back, very under weight, sick, timid, afraid of other dogs and stressed when traveling. Both my husband and I were beyond angry. It seemed like she was starved to make training easier and kept in a kennel for most of the time. Bree not once offered to help pay for the vet bills. She is in it for the money. If I knew how to upload photos on here I would upload the papers from the Vet. It shows visit date to the vet a day after getting our Fi back from Bree with report and test results of parasites. read more